25th Anniversary America’s Cup Silver Coin

To say that Australians celebrated after winning the 1983 America’s Cup is something of an understatement. As Time Magazine reported after Australia II’s victory, “the land Down Under had not witnessed such an orgy of jubilation since V-J day ended the war in the Pacific.” Struck from 1oz of 99.9% pure silver in proof quality, this commemorative release celebrates the 25th anniversary of Australia II’s historic victory off Newport, Rhode Island, which ended the United States’ 132-year domination of the event.The coin’s reverse design, which cleverly incorporates Australia II’s revolutionary keel line, depicts the celebrated 12-metre yacht with a coloured representation of her spinnaker bearing the famous identification number KA-6. As well as The Perth Mint’s ‘P’ mintmark, the reverse also incorporates the inscriptions AUSTRALIA II, 25, and ‘America’s Cup Victory 1983-2008’. Issued as legal tender under the Australian Currency Act 1965, the coin depicts the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. The coin is accompanied by an exclusive memento of the 1983 America’s Cup – a piece of sailcloth taken from the clew of Australia II’s 4-1 genoa. The sail was used throughout the series, including the final beat to windward of Race 7 when she held off US yacht Liberty in a 49 tack duel. It was the head sail worn by Australia II as she crossed the finishing line on 26 September.The sail is made from a bonded material with woven Kevlar cloth bonded to a Mylar film. The number 4-1 signifies that it is the fourth code 1 sail made for the 1983 campaign. Code 1 sails are the lightest sails, used in conditions from 1 knot to a maximum of 10 knots of true wind speed. The sail had been in the possession of Australia II crewman John Longley since being retrieved from a fire that destroyed most of the sails from Australia II and Australia III in 1986. The Americas Cup Silver Coin and sailcloth memento are housed in an illustrated presentation folder.